I finally have permission…

To write bad poetry this month
                        no extraneous commitments dictated

To grow a beard all week
                        no vain pretense required

To ring my mum to-night
                        no after-work drinks mandated

To sleep in an hour
                        no daily commute demanded

To contemplate a minute
                        no ‘time wasting’ reprimanded

To breathe just one second
                        no productivity quota commanded

You are the tonic to a bitter world
lemon, lime
unbearable
without your subtling sense

You are the tonic in a poison chalice
geese, turkey
grey and wild
without your taming touch

You are the tonic for a syrup glaze
rosy sweet
overwhelming
without your balanced reproach

You were my tonic
but now you’re flat.

subtitle: the night i was the idiot in the box

Glare the distorted face
hark the effusive vitriol.

Recoil into sofa
reach out for control.

Switch off glass-canvas
turn on realisation.

No Fox in the henhouse
Only a single lone wolf.

Reflection unrecognised
reflect on what you’ve become.

Darkness creeping in.

Submerged in silence.‌ Pin drop!

Peacefuleness shattered.

The loneliness of a lifeless pond
it is
so easily stirred

a single pebble, tossed irreverently
creates
for a brief moment
a violent rush of ripples

in time it will slow
it will return
stillness will beset it once again

It is 23:24.

I stand
stone​ ​faced

I see
cold tiles at my rear
fully aware of this moment and those of the past

I look
dishevelled
vein throbbing u​nder the cool minty foam
hand slightly trembling

I recall
every word, said and unsaid
eve​ry harm, direct and indirect
yet the rushing wave of memories cause no angst.

No.
It is the razors' edge.

Three.
Sharp.
Whispered.
Words.

I. AM. SORRY.

Wiping down myself and then the cloudy basin
white cotton towel with spots of​ crimson​ aside
I am anew
I am clean shaven.

But I am not

Unmarked.

I once was a vagabond
but now seem va
cant



I once was a vagabond
but now exude ga
ll



I once was a vagabond,
but now am bond
ed